meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Abu Dhabi bullish on green hydrogen

31 October 2024

 

Abu Dhabi is looking at three green hydrogen technology tracks as the UAE capital pushes ahead with an ambitious plan to become a global clean hydrogen production hub and capture up to 5% of global demand by 2033.

"The first track is ammonia, the second is liquid hydrogen and the third track is liquid hydrogen organic carriers," Mohammad Abdelqader El-Ramahi, chief green hydrogen officer at Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), told MEED during the inauguration of steelmaker Emsteel's pilot green hydrogen project in Abu Dhabi on 28 October.

"We plan to transport our hydrogen products in the shape and form that they are going to be used [by offtakers]," he adds.

On behalf of Abu Dhabi Inc, Masdar is mandated to develop green hydrogen projects within the boundaries of the emirate, according to Abu Dhabi's low-carbon hydrogen framework developed by the energy department.

It will have a majority share in all green hydrogen projects developed in Abu Dhabi, in addition to developing renewable energy – or green electrons – required to produce about 1 million tonnes of green hydrogen within a decade. 

The same law, which took effect at the beginning of the year, designates Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) as a co-investor in low-carbon hydrogen generated from fossil fuels with carbon capture, utilisation and storage. 

Masdar has already signed preliminary agreements with some of the biggest energy firms and offtakers, as well as with potential investors and developers of projects that will be set up in the so-called hydrogen valleys that are planned in Ruwais and Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (Kezad).

Read: Firm to build $272m UAE hydrogen equipment plant

Abu Dhabi envisages different low-carbon hydrogen production technologies to be collocated in these valleys to drive system-wide cost optimisation, including sharing infrastructure and facilities.

"Abu Dhabi and Masdar welcome strategic long-term partnerships and foreign direct investments by major players in the energy transition sectors … that bring the best value to enable the lowest levelised cost of hydrogen," says El-Ramahi.

"We also welcome co-investors and technology providers that can participate in consortiums to ensure reliability, business continuity and the lowest levelised cost of hydrogen or ammonia."

So far, the list of Masdar's potential green hydrogen partners includes Ireland-headquartered Linde; France's TotalEnergies; the UK's BP; Austria's Verbund; and Japan's Mitsui, Osaka Gas, Mitsubishi Chemical, Inpex and Toyo Gas.

"These projects will be developed via public-private partnerships. We encourage these long-term partnerships to promote low-carbon hydrogen in Abu Dhabi on a macroeconomic level, which will also open doors for us to invest internationally, because our mandate covers not only Abu Dhabi but globally."

El-Ramahi says Masdar's ambition aims to leverage its existing footprint and legacy in developing renewable energy globally to "explore new frontiers, and there is not a better chance in such exploration than these long-term partnerships based on mutual benefits and reciprocity".

Masdar is understood to have invested over $20bn in about 30GW of renewable energy capacity in 40 countries to date and aims to reach a gross capacity of 100GW by 2030.

Nascent sector

El-Ramahi is aware of the challenges plaguing the nascent industry. Few projects have reached financial investment decisions – either in the Middle East and North Africa region or globally – even though it is three or four years since the first megaprojects targeting demand centres in Asia and Europe were announced.

The average gestation period of these projects is at least four years and the onus will be on Masdar to figure out a way to shorten this.

"We need to be rational from the sector-readiness perspective. Readiness to develop such capacities, supply chain, logistics, technology, robustness, business continuity and reliability [takes time]. This sector is nascent … at the beginning of the launch of this sector a couple of years ago, people rode the wave and overpromised," El-Ramahi says.

"Now, with an understanding of the reality on the ground, many people are pulling away, which sometimes resonates negatively with decision-makers, but green hydrogen is real and low-carbon hydrogen is the future."

The executive is adamant that green hydrogen is the most important driver and enabler of net zero and decarbonisation, adding: "Very few people know that electricification alone can address no more than 30% of our decarbonisation [needs], even if we install all sorts of renewable sources."

Inevitable future fuel

Describing green hydrogen as the "inevitable future fuel", Masdar's strong Abu Dhabi government backing will be key to executing its mandate, notwithstanding potential rivalries with its GCC peers – particularly Oman and Saudi Arabia – and Egypt and Morocco further afield.

"History is made by achievements, not by promises," El-Ramahi says. "We have already overachieved … proving to the world that we can make commercial projects happen on the ground, and Abu Dhabi has always been a pioneer and first-mover in the energy sector."

Abu Dhabi intends to replicate its success in the energy sector's previous four waves – oil and gas in the 1960s, liquefied natural gas and anti-flaring in the 1970s, renewable energy in the 2000s, and nuclear energy in the 2020s – in the sector's fifth wave comprising low-carbon hydrogen.   

"We have made very rational steps in the past, our strategy does not endorse merely pouring money [into projects] or hiding subsidies … we don’t do that."

Build it and they will come

Given an extraordinary political will, Masdar and Abu Dhabi look set to develop or acquire what it takes to realise the ambition of becoming a global green hydrogen hub.

"We are working with the Industry & Advanced Technology Ministry to attract manufacturing companies and technology providers here in Abu Dhabi. This is in line with the government's decision, made over a decade ago, to transform into a knowledge-based economy, and we have been developing human capacity and attracting technology providers since then.

"It's not about putting money on the table – or under the table – in the form of subsidies … we do business realistically and transparently, and we want to compete against our own achievements on the ground," El-Ramahi concludes.

Related read: Decarbonising steel is hard to resist

Photo: Pixabay

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12820206/main.jpg
Jennifer Aguinaldo

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • Chinese contractor wins Morocco solar plant deal

    10 August 2026

    China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), has won a contract to build a solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Fez in northern Morocco.

    Known as GreenPower Morocco 4 (GPM4), the project is being developed by Moroccan company GPM Holding through its utility-scale solar subsidiary GPM Parks.

    The project covers engineering design, equipment procurement and installation, construction of an operation and maintenance building, grid connection and commissioning. It also includes upgrades to the associated substation.

    According to CHEC, the completed plant will supply electricity to the local grid, although it did not disclose the project’s capacity or contract value. 

    The project is being developed under Law 13-09, which provides Morocco’s framework for private renewable energy generation.

    According to its website, GPM Holding is also developing another solar PV project called GreenPower Morocco 2 (GPM2). This follows the completion of its first solar project, the 34MW project (GPM1) commissioned in Tangier in 2024. 

    GPM1 was developed by Green Power Morocco, a special purpose vehicle owned by GPM Holding and UAE-based Amea Power. The $30m project covers 75 hectares and includes 91,000 PV panels. It is expected to generate about 66,149MWh a year.

    The project has a 25-year power purchase agreement in place with Amendis, a subsidiary of Veolia Morocco. PowerChina was the main engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor.

    Chinese contractors have previously been involved in other projects in Morocco’s renewable energy sector.

    Shandong Electric Power Construction Company (Sepco 3), a subsidiary of PowerChina, was part of the EPC consortium for the 200MW Noor 2 concentrated solar plants and 150MW Noor 3 concentrated solar power projects at the Noor Ouarzazate complex.

    New contract awards have been limited in Morocco in 2026, although six solar PV plants are now in the execution stage under phases one and two of the 305MW Noor Atlas solar PV programme.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18263680/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Aramco puts out fire at Jizan refinery after Houthi strike

    10 August 2026

    Saudi Aramco said it had extinguished a fire that broke out at its Jizan refinery on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast after the facility was hit in drone strikes by Yemen-based Houthi rebels on 9 August.

    The kingdom’s Ministry of Energy said the fire occurred at an Aramco refinery facility in Jizan and that emergency authorities had completed the necessary procedures to deal with the incident.

    The energy ministry did not say what started the fire, saying only that the incident caused no injuries.

    The Houthi rebels later claimed responsibility for the attack.

    The province of Jizan lies close to Saudi Arabia’s border with Yemen and has repeatedly been targeted by the Houthis in attacks on the kingdom’s energy infrastructure.

    The strike on the Jizan refinery was the second attack on the facility by the Houthis in as many weeks. Aramco shut the refinery on 27 July following a similar drone strike, which, according to media reports, damaged the integrated gasification combined-cycle unit and tank farm at the complex.

    On a call with investors to discuss Aramco’s second-quarter results, CEO Amin Nasser said recent attacks on the company’s facilities in the world’s top oil-exporting country had caused some disruption to production, but that he was confident operations could be restored quickly. He said the attacks had had no material operational or financial impact.

    Jizan refinery complex

    Saudi Aramco’s sprawling Jizan refinery complex entered operations in 2021.

    Aramco undertook the estimated $16bn-plus project in late 2010. The scheme consists of a refinery with an output capacity of 400,000 barrels a day (b/d), a major marine terminal and a 4GW combined-cycle power plant in Baish, in Saudi Arabia’s southwestern Jizan region.

    The Jizan refinery covers an area of 12 square kilometres. The complex processes Arabian Heavy and Arabian Medium crude grades to produce 80 million b/d of gasoline, 250 million b/d of diesel and more than 1 million tonnes a year of petrochemical products such as benzene and paraxylene.

    A multiple-pier marine terminal supports the supply of crude oil from oil fields located mainly in the kingdom’s Eastern Province to the refinery, as well as the export of surplus refined products to overseas markets. The terminal has been designed to accommodate very large crude carriers.

    A 4,000MW combined-cycle power plant uses approximately 90,000 b/d of vacuum residue from the refinery to generate electricity, hydrogen and water for the refinery, while conveying excess power to the national grid.

    The hydrocracker unit comprises two parallel trains with a combined capacity of 54,500 b/d. The diesel hydrotreater plant comprises two trains, each with a capacity of 87,500 b/d.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18262347/main.jpg
    Indrajit Sen
  • Shamal picks Dutco for Dubai Zoo site homes

    10 August 2026

    Dubai-based Shamal Holding has awarded local contractor Dutco Construction the main construction works contract for a low-rise residential project on the site of the former Dubai Zoo in Jumeirah 1.

    The project will comprise 90 low-rise homes and is designed as a residential leasing community that will remain under Shamal’s ownership, with all homes offered for premium leasing.

    The development will retain mature trees from the former zoo and is planned around shared courtyards, landscaped open spaces and a central park. Residents will have access to a clubhouse, wellness area, children’s play area, family pool, lounge and gym.

    The architect is DXB Lab. The local H&H is the development manager for the project.

    Dutco has previously worked with Shamal on infrastructure elements of the Dubai Harbour and Dubai Harbour Marinas developments.

    Shamal’s wider real estate portfolio includes the Naia Island, Dubai Harbour and Nad Al-Sheba Gardens developments. The company also holds hospitality and leisure assets, including partnerships with Jumeirah, Hilton and Baccarat, and operates attractions such as Skydive Dubai and Deep Dive Dubai.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18262386/main.png
    Colin Foreman
  • WEBINAR: Mena Oil & Gas Projects Market 2026-27

    10 August 2026

    Webinar: Mena Oil & Gas Projects Market 2026-27 
    Thursday 27 August 2026 | 11:00 AM GST  |  Register now

    Agenda:

    • Summary of the Mena oil, gas and petrochemicals projects market 
    • Overview of major megaprojects, including project programmes
    • Analysis of active contracts and spending to date
    • Review of top contracts by work already awarded
    • Long-term capital expenditure outlays and forecasts
    • Key contracts expected to be tendered and awarded over the next 18 months
    • Leading clients, contractors and market participants
    • Spending by segment: oil, gas and petrochemicals (upstream, downstream, onshore and offshore) 
    • Audience Q&A 

    Hosted by: Indrajit Sen, MEED’s oil & gas editor

    Click here to register

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18260597/main.gif
    Indrajit Sen
  • Spanish firm renews Yanbu desalination O&M contract

    10 August 2026

    Spain’s Aqualia has announced it has renewed a contract to operate and maintain three floating desalination plants in Yanbu on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast.

    The contract was awarded by the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) and will run until 14 September 2028, with an option to extend for a further two years.

    The three reverse osmosis (RO) plants are mounted on barges and have a combined production capacity of 150,000 cubic metres a day (cm/d). Each plant has a capacity of 50,000 cm/d.

    The three plants were originally deployed at Al-Shuqaiq and are designed to be relocated along Saudi Arabia’s coastline according to water demand. The barges are currently located at Yanbu.

    The $255m floating desalination project was commissioned for the Saudi Water Authority in 2022, with Bahri as the developer and UAE-based Metitio as the main contractor.

    Bahri is publicly listed on the Saudi Exchange but has significant government ownership, with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) holding 22.5% and Saudi Aramco Development Company owning 20% of the company.

    Aqualia is providing operation and maintenance services in Saudi Arabia through its joint venture Haji Abdullah Alireza Integrated Services Company (Haaisco), in which it holds a 51% stake.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/18259350/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall